Introducing me: The Dog Trainer

Hello there. Welcome to my page. Maybe you got here on accident, maybe on purpose, or maybe you’re a friend or family member who feels obligated to read my musings about dogs. In any case, welcome. I’m so excited to introduce myself and my business: Kay’s K9s Dog Training. Let’s start back at the beginning. Bare with me, there’s a lot to cover.

You may be wondering why or how I began as a dog trainer. Well to be honest, it’s always been something I really enjoyed doing since I was about 10 years old and got my first dog, but I won’t take you back that far (wow I feel old). I’ll start with my first project dog: Jake. Jake was a Jack Russell Terrier with a mind of his own and who was too smart for his own good…and definitely too smart for me to keep ahead of. In typical JRT fashion, he was always on the go and a ball of energy. But Jake’s first 4 months on this planet were very difficult, he came from a puppy mill where I’m sure he was subjected to make harsh conditions and possible abuse. When he was bought by an elderly couple, his issues only got worse. With no training and no socialization during THE MOST critical time in his life, Jake was completely set up for failure. The couple ultimately brought him into the shelter where he met me…a dog lover with a soft spot for JRTs.

Jake was brought in at 4 months of age and seemed rather normal other than his guarding of his food bowl, which isn’t abnormal for most dogs even when they come from good breeders. The more time Jake spent with me though, the more I began to notice his very real and very scary behaviors. Jake became not only food aggressive, but toy/treat/really any item he had in his possession aggressive. He would lunge/bite if you tried to take something from him. Getting a leash on him was a whole event that you needed patience with because he wanted to bite any part of me or the leash when it came toward him. He could not be touched/pet for long periods and definitely not while he was sleeping. He was fearful of every noise. Basically, I had the beginnings of a VERY aggressive and dangerous dog on my hands.

Now, during this period of time I did not know about positive reinforcement (this was 10 years ago so give me a break). Some of the methods I used to work with Jake were not fear-free and were not positive. Did they work? Sometimes. Most of the time though, it didn’t really do much of anything. I read blogs, training books, watched DVDs, television shows on dog training, I did anything and everything I could think of to gain the knowledge to work with and learn how to handle Jake. It was a tedious process and my work was never completely finished. I trained Jake to allow handling, allow me to go near his food bowl without reacting, walk on a leash without pulling, to be ok with other familiar dogs, and to allow me to take toys/bones/other things from him. This was not accomplished overnight, it took years to get him to a good place, but I was able to succeed.

However, Jake was unable to be completely cured. This is more than likely due to his time during his critical socialization period (this is during puppyhood from 3-16 weeks of age and is super important for every dog) being locked in a cage and enduring whatever it was he had to endure. I shudder to think about it. Unfortunately, there was nothing I could do to fix what those few months had already solidified in his growing mind. At the time of his passing, Jake was still not able to be handled by anyone other than me and was still shy about strangers petting/holding him. I could do anything though. I gave him pets, belly rubs, held him like a baby, and could even draw blood on him by myself…something most people can’t do on even the best trained dogs. Jake had specific requirements that I had to work with and my husband and I learned to co-exist and give him the space that he needed, for example, when he was sleeping he didn’t like to be touched so we gave him his own bed and he was able to lay in there whenever he didn’t want to be bothered.

Jake was a very special dog to me. He was my first dog I had on my own and the first behavior case that I took on before I even knew I was going to be a dog trainer. In fact, he’s the reason I went back to school. In December of 2019, after battling cancer for a year and a half, Jake lost the fight and I held him as he crossed over the rainbow bridge. He and I went through so much together, college, shelter jobs, my first veterinary job, moving in with my boyfriend, a messy breakup, a move to a different state, various veterinary jobs, a dog walking business, and me marrying my best friend. He was always by my side and now…he no longer was.

Losing Jake was very difficult and I spent months thinking “oh I’m going to wait a year or so before getting a dog”. But low and behold, a dog fell into my lap (much like cats do, that’s why I have 3, I’m a sucker). Finn was a puppy from an “oopsie” litter a friend of mine had. He was raised by an amazing family with dogs, kids, and cats and was well socialized before even coming to my home at 9 weeks of age. This is the ideal upbringing for a pup, but is not the reality for most. Due to Finn’s amazing start to life, raising him was completely different that raising Jake. Finn was well-acclimated to most things and was already mostly house-trained. He was good with my cats, loved other dogs, was a complete lover, and loved everyone…and still does. There isn’t a mean bone in this dog’s body for real. Finn has been a whole new experience and in Jan of 2022, I decided it was time to go back to school and fulfill my dream of becoming a dog trainer.

I joined CATCH Dog Training Academy’s master certification program in the hopes of graduating and fulfilling my dream of running my own business. As I worked full-time at a local vet clinic, I kept up with my schoolwork at set a deadline of 1 year for myself…I finished in 10 months. And I learned more than I ever could have imagined about dogs and training. I got to work with shelter dogs, work with friends and family dogs, and…I got to work with my Finn.

Now I’ve adopted a second dog named Fionna and she has brought so much joy to our household, our little family of fur babies. But she is for sure a handful. She’s given my training skills a run for their money and I’m still working on many things with her. But again, it’s all a process and will take time. Soon enough she’ll be the well-adjusted adolescent that Finn now is. I cannot explain how ready I am for that time to come. As I raise a puppy, work full-time at the veterinary clinic, and start my own business I find myself excited for this new chapter of my life.

I must say I have had so much support from my family and friends during this time. So I want to take a second to thank all of them. First off, I want to thank my husband for supporting my dream, helping me financially, and pushing me through the worst days. It’s been tough, but we made it through. I want to thank my parents for believing in me and helping me to see the light at the end of the tunnel, for supporting my venture and helping me get to this point in any way they could. I want to thank my boss Kristen for her kindness and understanding during my transition from veterinary technician to dog trainer and for supporting me, pushing me, and allowing me to remain a part of my CFVH family. I want to thank everyone at Carolina Forest Vet Hospital, the owners, the doctors, the techs, the front desk staff, and the kennel techs for helping me get my name out there, supporting me, and understanding some of my specific scheduling needs during this transition. We truly are a big family. And lastly, to my friends Megan, Eric, Pam, GG, Shelby A., Heidi, Heather, Jenn, Brian, Tatyana and Emily thank you for supporting me, cheering me on, and personally helping me promote my business. A big shout out to some of my first dogs I had the pleasure of working with, Coral and Maya Marie…the perfect students. I am surrounded by so many people who have been there for me and it means so much. I’m so happy I get to know every single one of you.

I hope you will continue along with me on this journey and reach out if you ever need a pawsitive dog trainer with a lot of love for what she does.